Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Town gets $1.2M grant for 1100N trail

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By KEVIN NEVERS

The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission has officially awarded a grant to the Town of Chesterton for Phase III of the Westchester-Liberty Trail.

So Town Council Member Jim Ton, R-1st, reported at the council’s meeting Tuesday night.

The grant totals $1,209,375.

In February, Ton reported that NIRPC had given its highest grade for multi-use trail projects to Phase III, which will continue the eight-foot sidewalk along 1100N from South Fifth Street to 100E. It will be constructed on the north side of 1100N, but approximately halfway between the two intersections a spur on the south side will be built leading into park property in the Tamarack subdivision, then continue through the neighborhood until debouching onto 100E where it will meet Rail Road, thus effectively linking Coffee Creek Center with Dogwood Park and--via the sidewalk along 23rd Street--with the Prairie Duneland Trail and points east.

The total estimated cost of Phase III: $1,406,250. The town’s portion of the cost: around $300,000, with the balance being with federal moneys.

RR Quiet Zone

In other business, Town Engineer Mark O’Dell reported that work continues on a request for proposals for a feasibility study on a quiet-zone retrofit of the railroad grade-crossings in Downtown Chesterton.

O’Dell said that, on Associate Town Attorney Chuck Parkinson’s suggestion, he’s working to add some statutorily required language to the RFP, which should be ready soon for final legal review and then advertisement.

By consensus, members also agreed to add the railroad quiet zone to the council’s bimonthly agenda under “Old Business.”

Ton noted that the quiet zone is a hot topic for many people. “That’s what I get the most feedback on right now,” he said.

Re: Intersection of

Porter/Calumet

Meanwhile, O’Dell told the council that he and his staff are currently inspecting the intersection of Porter Ave. and South Calumet Road, which the council would like, eventually, to widen and traffic-signal. To that end, the council is awaiting the results of two statutorily required appraisals of the property at the southeast corner of the intersection, which is now up for sale.

That property would be used for right-of-way in the project.

O’Dell noted that a fire hydrant at the intersection has been installed in an easement granted to Indiana American Water Company. “It’s right in the middle of things,” O’Dell said. “We’re trying to find all those red flags.”

Business Inspections

O’Dell also told the council that the Building Department and Fire Department have begun working closely together on business inspections, lately inspecting the new Biggby Coffee at 3091 Village Point and the new Domino’s Pizza at 560 Indian Boundary Road.

The Domino’s inspection went perfectly well, O’Dell said, but he acknowledged that the employees there were surprised when “10 guys walked through the door.”

Re: CFD Training Building and Pickup Truck

At the request of Fire Chief John Jarka, members voted unanimously to approve an expenditure of $12,000 in CEDIT moneys to be used to repair the roof of the CFD’s training building, located on the east side of 23rd Street just north of Dogwood Park.

The polebarn building used to belong to the Park Department.

At the same time, members signed off on the transfer of a 1999 Ford F-250 belonging to the CFD to the Park Department.

New Officer, New Firefighter

Police Chief Dave Cincoski took a moment to announce that a new police officer has been given a conditional offer of employment, pending approval by the 1977 Police Officers’ and Firefighters Retirement Fund.

His name: Eric Lisoski.

Jarka similarly announced the hire of a new firefighter, whom he will introduce at an upcoming meeting of the council.

 

 

Posted 5/29/2019

 
 
 
 

 

 

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